Gérard Moss

Gérard Moss, MBE[1][2][3] (born 16 May 1955) is a Swiss-Brazilian pilot, engineer, public speaker, environmentalist and explorer born in England. As a pilot, Gerard is known for being the first person to complete a solo flight in a motor glider around the world.[4][5] Gérard and his wife Margi Moss are naturalized citizens of Brazil and until as late as 2012 were the only South American citizens considered Earthrounders.

Gérard Moss
Moss at the 6th World Water Forum in 2012
Born (1955-05-16) 16 May 1955
England, UK
NationalityBrazilian
Occupation
  • Pilot
  • environmentalist
  • explorer
Years active1983–present
Spouse(s)Margi Moss
Websitemundomoss.com.br

As an environmentalist, Gerard and his wife have started many projects to prevent Deforestation in Brazil and evaluate the quality of its water and air. After living in Rio de Janeiro for 25 years, the couple moved to Brasília in 2006 to be closer to the Amazon Rainforest[6] and begin the Flying Rivers project.

Early life and expeditions

The life of Gerard as an explorer started early. After getting his first passport at age 4, he would fly to England and Switzerland to visit his parents.[7] In 1983, after graduating as a mechanical engineer, Gerard acquired his pilot license in California and arrived in Brazil, where he set up a maritime freight business to transport soybeans. In 1989, he completed his first round the world flight along with Margi, whom he met in Búzios in 1985.[8]

Four corners of the Americas

In 1997 he flew to the four corners of the American continent. Starting in Rio de Janeiro, he flew to Cape Froward, Chile in the extreme south, then the extreme west on Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska followed by Zenith Point in Canada and finally Ponta dos Seixas back in Brazil.[9] His expedition was covered by Rede Globo on Fantástico.[10]

First motor glider flight around the world
A Ximango motor glider similar to the one used by Moss

In 2001, he completed the first flight around the world in a motor glider, using the Ximango manufactured in Brazil. The aircraft has a near-handcrafted production[11] and proved to be very efficient. The journey was planned to be completed in 100 days.[12] His expedition was once again covered by Fantástico, a work that resulted in the book Asas Do Vento: A Primeira Volta Ao Mundo Num Motoplanador (Wings of the Wind: The First World Tour in a Motorglider).[13]

Environmental projects

With the aid of his private flight experience, Moss was able to witness firsthand the effects of global warming and deforestation.[14] His concerns grew into projects that aimed at conservation of Brazilian natural resources.[15] His projects evaluated the quality of the air and the water in Brazil. In 2003 he started a project to analyze the waters of Brazilian drainage basins[16] and later started the Flying Rivers project.

Media relations

Gerard's expeditions have been covered by Fantástico on TV Globo[17] and his projects have been covered by TV Câmara,[18] National Geographic,[19] Estadão,[20] and several newspapers, magazines and websites,[21] both Brazilian and foreign.[22][23]

Flying Rivers

In 2007, Gérard, together with renowned Brazilian scientists, started a research project to evaluate the water flow from clouds and the possibility of drought being caused by the deforestation of the Amazon Forest.[24] The project consists of acquiring water from the air to evaluate its origin and flow from the Amazon River to the south of the Americas.[25][26] The project is part of a larger project called "Brasil das Águas" (Brazil of the Waters).[27] According to Moss, the water flow carried by these flying rivers could equal that of the Amazon River itself[28] since each tree can be responsible for 300 liters[29] of atmospheric water per day.[30] Between 2006 and 2007, seven Brazilian rivers were the target of studies (Araguaia, Grande, Ribeira, Miranda, Ibicuí, Verde and Guaporé). In 2007, after collecting the samples, they started to compare them with the water vapors from the air. With the support of University of São Paulo and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, they arrived at the conclusion that much of the water vapor comes from Amazonian rivers, creating a phenomenon termed "flying rivers".[31]

Publications

Gerard and Margi have published several books reporting their experiences:[32]

  • Asas Do Vento: A Primeira Volta Ao Mundo Num Motoplanador (ISBN 8501065552)
  • Volta Por Cima (ISBN 8501055794)
  • Freedom of the Skies (ISBN 1853109061)
  • Loucos por ti, América (ISBN 8501055255)
  • Extremos das Américas

References
  1. "Double Earthrounder Gérard Moss was honoured with an MBE at Buckingham Palace on November 18, 2011". Earthrounders. 5 December 2011. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  2. "Gérard Moss Decorated by Queen Elizabeth". 22 November 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  3. "Gérard Moss to be decorated by Queen Elizabeth". Envirobusiness. 16 November 2011.
  4. "Fournier aircraft history, performance and specifications". Certified aircraft database. Pilotfriend. Retrieved 13 January 2012. 2001. World tour by Gérard Moss of Swiss origin, living in Brazil. The first to fly alone in a motor glider around our planet with the RF-10, n° 11, built in France in 1986.The wings had been reinforced to support the plane's increased load (video/tv equipment and 290 litres of petrol). A 55000 km circle over 40 countries: was a real achievement the pilot and his aircraft.
  5. "Noticeboard 2001". Earthrounders. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012. September 29h [sic], 2001 : Congratulations to Gérard Moss for his successful [sic] RTW flight in a Super Ximango. He had left Brazil on June 23th [sic] and flew over 55 497 km.
  6. "Gérard and Margi Moss – exploring the environment". Safari Air Empreendimentos Ltd. Retrieved 13 January 2012. Having lived in Rio de Janeiro for 25 years, Brazil is their true home and they are naturalized Brazilians. They recently moved away from the lushness of the Atlantic rainforest to the drier cerrado biome that surrounds Brasilia, in the very heart of the country.
  7. "Gérard Moss". Mundo Moss. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  8. "Margi Moss". Mundo Moss. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  9. "Four Corners of the Americas (1997)". Mundo Moss. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  10. "Voo pelas Americas". Rede Globo: Fantástico. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  11. "Vencemos de novo: A aviação brasileira ganha mais uma da Bombardier". Jornal Hoje. 23 February 2002. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  12. "Suíço-brasileiro tenta volta ao mundo de planador". swissinfo.ch. 21 June 2001. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  13. Moss, Gerarld; Moss, Margi (2002). Asas Do Vento: A Primeira Volta Ao Mundo Num Motoplanador [Wings of the Wind: The First World Tour in a Motorglider] (in Portuguese). Editora Record. p. 332. ISBN 978-8501065551.
  14. "Landolt & Cie Chair". École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Archived from the original on 10 December 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  15. "Gérard e Margi Moss, companheiros de viagem". Leia Brasil. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  16. Redação 360 Graus (29 September 2003). "Gérard Moss decola em hidroavião para realizar pesquisa inédita". 360 Graus. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  17. "Entrevista - Asas do vento: A volta ao mundo num motoplanador". Grupo Editorial Record. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  18. "Entrevista com Gerard Moss (Aviador)". TV Camara. 18 December 2004. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  19. Christine Dell'Amore (18 December 2009). "Amazon Losing "Flying Rivers," Ability to Curb Warming". National Geographic. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  20. "Rios voadores: água levada por cima de nossas cabeças". Estadão. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  21. "Esporte Aventura - Rally Mitsubishi e Participação do aviador Gérard Moss". Radio Estadão ESPN. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  22. "How much does it cost to land in Japan?". AOPA Japan. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  23. "Amazon's loss of "flying rivers" making it lose ability to curb global warming". ZeeNews. 20 December 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  24. Mario Osava (17 January 2011). "Rainfall Patterns Can't Be Ignored in Climate Change Debate". Inter Press Service News Agency. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  25. "Entrevista com Gérard e Margi Moss". InfoGPS UOL. 30 September 2010. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  26. "Fliying Rivers". Cop15Brasil. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  27. "Entrevista com Margi e Gérard Moss, idealizadores do Projeto Brasil das Águas". Revista EA. 9 March 2005. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  28. "Dados mostram impacto da floresta sobre chuvas no Sul" (in Portuguese). Estadão. 19 March 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  29. "Gérard Moss fala dos rios voadores da Amazônia em palestra". Gente de Opiniao. 14 November 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  30. "Pesquisadores tentam mapear em MT rios voadores da amazônia". Extremos. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  31. "Rios voadores a todo vapor". Editora Abril: Planeta Sustentável. 18 March 2010. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  32. "Mundo Moss: Livros". Mundo Moss. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
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